mangroves
Tui or Mangrove trumpet tree
Dolichandrone spathacea

Family Bignoniaceae

updated Jan 2013
Where seen? Several of these beautiful trees have been replanted at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Pulau Ubin and our coastal parks. According to Ng, it is confined to the back-mangrove zone and banks of tidal rivers and estuaries. The trees at Changi Point, Pulau Sakeng and sluice gates of Sungei Jurong were destroyed with recent development. According to Hsuan Keng, it was formerly common along our tidal rivers including Punggol, Bajau, Pulau Ubin, Pulau Tekong and Tanjung Gul. According to Corners, it is considered common in Malaya. According to Tomlinson, it has the widest range of the Dolichandrone and frequently found in the back mangroves which are flooded at the highest tides. Typically, it grows in swampy or beach communities such as dunes or on river banks.

Features: A shrub or tree that grows to 5-20m tall. Old trees have massive trunks that are fluted at the base. Trunk cylindrical, short and often crooked. Bark grey to dark brown, shallowly ridged and fissured, slightly scaly.

Compound leaves made up of 2-4 pairs of leaflets eye-shaped (6-20cm long) thin arranged opposite one another. Generally 3 pairs of leaflets with a leaflet at the tip. Young leaves are slightly pinkish and somewhat sticky. At times the tree may be nearly leafless.

Flowers trumpet-shaped large (15-20cm long) white delicate with ruffled edges, in clusters of 2-10 flowers. The flowers in the cluster bloom one at a time and according to Corners "very fragrant" while Tomlinson describes it as "a pervasive scent". According to Hsuan Keng, the flower opens in the early morning and closes at noon, but according to Corners, it blooms at dusk and the flower drops off at sunrise or earlier, while Tomlinson says they bloom in the early evening and the flower usually lasts for only one day. According to Tomlinson, nectar accumulates copiously at the base of the trumpet tube. Suggestions for pollinators include very long-tongued moths (Corners), long-tongued 'nocturnal animals' probably hawk moths (Tomlinson). Apparently, no pollinators have been observed so far. Self pollination also occurs.

Pods long curling bean-like (25-60cm long) and contain many seeds. The pods are green at first, turning brown. The seeds resemble small rectangular wheat biscuits; they are pale white to beige, small (about 1.5cm) flat, rectangular to square, with a corky wing. They float readily and are probably dispersed by water and not wind.

Human uses: According to Burkill, the wood is light and thus was prefered by the Javanese for making saddles. It is also used in floats for fishing nets and for wooden shoes in the Philippines. According to Giersen, it is used as firewood, and also for making traditional 'wayang kulit' (shadow puppet) masks in Indonesia. Tea brewed from the leaves are used to treat mouth infections.

Status and threats:
It is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the Red List of threatened plants of SIngapore.

Planted tree near natural mangroves.
Pulau Ubin, Jul 09


Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09


Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 10

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 09

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09

Trumpet shaped flower.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Mar 09


Seeds look like wheat biscuits.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 09

Opened pods.
Pulau Ubin, Jul 09

Unopened pod.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Feb 09

Mangrove trumpet trees on Singapore shores

Photos of Mangrove trumpet trees for free download from wildsingapore flickr

Distribution in Singapore on this wildsingapore flickr map

Links

References

  • Hsuan Keng, S.C. Chin and H. T. W. Tan. 1990, The Concise Flora of Singapore: Gymnosperms and Dicotyledons. Singapore University Press. 222 pp.
  • Tan, Hugh T.W. and T. Morgany. 2001. Growing the Native Plants of Singapore. BP Science Centre Guidebook. 168pp.
  • Tomlinson, P. B., 1986. The Botany of Mangroves Cambridge University Press. USA. 419 pp.
  • Corners, E. J. H., 1997. Wayside Trees of Malaya: in two volumes. Fourth edition, Malayan Nature Society, Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-476 pp, plates 1-38; volume 2: 477-861 pp., plates 139-236.
  • Davison, G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
  • Burkill, I. H., 1993. A Dictionary of the Economic Products of the Malay Peninsula. 3rd printing. Publication Unit, Ministry of Agriculture, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur. Volume 1: 1-1240; volume 2: 1241-2444.
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